Desknotes on their way to set a new trendDesknotes on their way to set a new trend

Desknotes are setting a new trend in the desktop market with reports of brisk business coming in from two brands that are currently being sold in the country. Though Mercury and Asus are the only brands actively promoting desknotes, most major PC vendors have marked desknotes in their roadmap. Some of them are even ready with it. Companies like IBM, HP, Dell and Toshiba are likely to release their models very soon.

Kobian has four desknotes under its Mercury brand in the price range of Rs 41,000 to Rs 55,000. These models are based on the Transmeta, Celeron and Pentium processors. Mega Networks, Kobian's sole disty for desknotes, has reported good sales since the launch of the product three months ago. "The desknote market is doing very well and is expected to grow by 50 percent by the end of 2003-04," said Amrish Kumar, Director, Mega Networks. The company has reportedly sold few hundred units in the last three months, mostly to banks and telecom companies.

Similarly, Asus with its Degatto D1 has done more than 50 units in the last one month through its distributor Rashi Peripherals in Mumbai. The product is priced at around Rs 55,000. "The initial response for this product has been very good and we are all set to increase our focus on this product," said Pankaj Pamani, PR Manager, Asus 

"Desknotes are a new trend in the mobile computing space. And with products like Degatto, we are sure the trend will catch up soon with consumers," added Parmani. According to him, "Asus Degatto is the perfect desktop replacement solution for cost-conscious users delivering desktop level performance and indoor portability".

Desknotes are computers that look like a notebook but use the regular desktop processors and memories. It is positioned as an alternative to the laptop with its low pricing and upgradability. The battery that goes with the desknotes comes as an external device to give the required mobility of a laptop. "80 percent people use laptops with the power adapter connected. So it really doesn't matter even if the battery is not inbuilt in a desknote," said Kumar.

Nelson Johny

(CNS)